Six people in court over child sex offences

A woman and five men have appeared in court accused of a string of child sex offences including child prostitution and rape over a seven-year period in South Yorkshire.

The alleged offences relate to 17 victims, 16 girls and one boy, aged as young as 12.

Many of the victims were vulnerable and in care at the time of the offences, which are said to have taken place between 2004 and 2011.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of 41 offences relating to victims aged between 12 and 20.

She is charged with arranging or facilitating a child sexual offence, inciting or causing a child to become a prostitute and inciting or arranging or facilitating the prostitution of a child.

Sheffield men Lee Unwin, aged 26, from the city’s Nethergreen area, and John McLachlan, aged 65, of Firth Park, are accused of paying for the sexual service of a child.

Kareem Ahmed, aged 29, of Manor, Sheffield, is accused of arranging or facilitating travel for the commission of a sexual offence, and Bashdar Hamadamin, aged 26, of Burngreave, Sheffield, faces a single charge of rape.

A fifth man, who cannot be named, is facing three counts of sexual assault, one on a child under the age of 13.

All defendants appeared alongside each other in the dock and were bailed to appear at Sheffield Crown Court again on October 8.

Judge Michael Murphy QC said: “This is a case that’s going to involve many young people and many young people in care.”